TANTALUS, in ornithology, a genus of birds belonging to the order of grallæ. The bill is long, subulated, and
somewhat crooked; the nostrils oval, the fore-part of the head bald from the eyes; the feet have four toes palmated on the under-part. There are seven species; of which the most remarkable is the ibis of the Egyptians. Mr Hasselquist informs us that it is of the size of a raven-hen. This bird is found in Lower Egypt, and is seen in great numbers during the overflowing of the Nile, in those places which the water does not reach, and afterwards in the places the water has deserted. It feeds on insects and small frogs, which abound in Egypt during the inundation of the Nile and for some time after, being by this means of great service to the country. They often assemble, especially mornings and evenings, in the gardens, in such numbers as to cover whole palm-trees. When this bird rests, it sits upright, so as to cover its feet with its tail, and raises the breast and neck.
TANTALUS'S CUP. See HYDROSTATICS, n° 38.